On Monday North Tuddenham residents breathed a sigh of relief when Breckland councillors decided not to approve designs for the residential complex.

Controversial plans for a 40-bedroom nursing home next to a Norfolk village pub have been refused.

On Monday North Tuddenham residents breathed a sigh of relief when Breckland councillors decided not to approve designs for the residential complex.

The long-running saga has been rooted over whether Express Care should be allowed to build a home for the mentally infirm on the site next to The Lodge, near Dereham, and a farm.

More than six-years-ago a 40-bed motel was approved on the land and permission was renewed in 2005, yet no development was ever carried out, and last year plans were refused for a 62-bedroom nursing home because councillors were concerned about conflict with the pub and nearby farm.

And feelings still ran strong when a new application was put in for a smaller residential home with North Tuddenham parish council objecting due to concerns about the impact on rural area, conflict with local business and drainage.

Breckland's development control committee was set to grant permission as long as conditions were met, including access and drainage.

However on Monday councillors voted against the development for exactly the same reasons as last time.

Chairman of the committee, Elizabeth Gould said: “I don't want to criticise the architect. I think the designs are good. It looks like a little village.

“I've always supported the idea of residential homes in rural areas. People who have grown up in rural areas don't want to end up in the city.

“But this has nothing to go with it. No doctor's surgery, they probably won't be well enough to go in the pub. There's nothing to support it.”